Fullerene

This was the latest form of pure carbon to be discovered.

Richard Smalley (Rice UNiversity-US) and Harry Kroto (Sussex University-UK) shared the Nobel Prize for it.

This structure resembles a football and also some exotic buildings by the arquitect Buckminster Fuller, who lent it his name.

It is also called C60, as there are 60 carbon atoms in it. Its geometry is composed of octagons and pentagons.

Fullerenes are subject of intense research, including chemical reactions, spectroscopy, new materials, etc

It is one of the most important materials applied in nanotechnology. It can also be produced in alongated shapes, forming what are called nanotubes. Nanotubes are the new supermaterial, with extraordinary mechanical strength and interesting electronic properties.#